An increasing number of Australians are spending big on private jets for holidays, interstate meetings and relocating their pets in luxury. Charter planes flew almost 320,000 people in January, according to government figures, a 28% increase on the 250,000 recorded in January 2020, before Covid travel restrictions were introduced. While many passengers were staff sent to work in remote locations, aviation experts say much of the recent increase is due to wealthy people chartering private planes.
Some charter companies have doubled their profits, while others have searched for more planes as they struggle to meet demand. And even as commercial flights have picked up after Covid, clients once wary of the virus have remained loyal, now unwilling to risk cancellations and delays.
